Our Story
Foster Success, headquartered in Indiana, has been successfully providing support to young people transitioning out of foster care since 2012.
Now, we’ve expanded nationally.
Founded in 2008 as Indiana Connected by 25, the organization began with the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) and Opportunity Passport® programs.
“As we looked at data and studied literature, it was clear young people in foster care needed critical transitional support to thrive. It was stunning to imagine a young person without a bank account, a driver’s license, secure housing, ready access to food, an education plan — or a trusted adult to help them navigate all the steps forward.
Indiana Connected by 25 was supported by a village — just as we hoped former foster youth would be. Sparked by the Jim Casey Youth Opportunity Initiative and convened by the United Way of Central Indiana, we had the ability to study and develop strategies that would amplify these young peoples’ voices, advocate and codify strategies in practice and policy, and create a service that would reach statewide.”
— Gail Thomas Strong, Indiana Connected by 25 Founding Board Chair.
Indiana Connected by 25 was formally established as a statewide nonprofit. The Indiana Youth Advisory Board (IYAB), now known as the Indiana Foster Youth Alliance (IFYA), was integrated into the organization, continuing its role as a safe space for teens and young adults with foster care experience to connect, share, and grow together.
"When I was asked to create programming to support youth aging out of foster care, it wasn’t just a professional opportunity — it was a personal calling. I had seen firsthand the gap in support for young people aging out of foster care, and I believed deeply that Indiana could do better. I wanted to help build an organization that put their voices at the center, that recognized their potential, and that gave them the tools and support to thrive in adulthood.”
– Sam Criss, founding President of Indiana Connected by 25
Brent Kent was selected to serve as President and CEO of Indiana Connected by 25, ushering in efforts to refine programs based on youth voice and measurable outcomes.
“My hope was to build an organization that truly listened to young people, empowered them to shape their own futures, and prioritized their well-being over maintaining harmony among adults and systems. I wanted our work to be driven by their voices, not just our intentions, and to drive meaningful reforms in child welfare.”
— Brent Kent, former President & CEO of Indiana Connected by 25
Indiana Connected by 25 adopted and advanced its first policy and systems change agenda — championing SEA 497 which ensures continuous Medicaid coverage for young people who age out of foster care until age 26.
“Even in the face of profound challenges, young people consistently showed courage, ambition, and — most inspiringly — support for one another.”
— Brent Kent, former President & CEO of Indiana Connected by 25
Indiana Connected by 25 officially became Foster Success. The brand and name change reflected a broader, more empowering mission to not just connect youth but walk alongside them on their journey to self-sufficiency.
Maggie Stevens was named as President & CEO.
As the organization adjusted to life during the COVID-19 pandemic, program delivery transitioned from in-person to virtual spaces. Beginning in 2020, much of the programming shifted to virtual and hybrid spaces, allowing for more young people across Indiana to access needed support and training. During this time, programs and resources were launched in the Workforce Readiness and Health & Well-Being Impact Areas, including the first-ever Foster Success Emergency Fund, which became a staple program later known as the Basic Needs Fund.
During the 2021 Session of the Indiana General Assembly, significant advances were made to support young people experiencing foster care in Indiana, including: developing and implementing the Foster Care Tax Credit — designed to provide up to $10,000 in state tax credits for contributions made to qualifying foster care organizations. This work continued with the creation of the Insuring Foster Youth Trust Fund the next year.
In 2022, Foster Success celebrated its 10th Anniversary and received a transformational $5 million gift from Lilly Endowment Inc., the largest gift in the nonprofit’s 10-year history, to provide sustainability for the organization.
Foster Success Education Services, a standalone 501(c)(3) subsidiary, was established, and the organization was able to expand its work in implementing the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program into three states outside of Indiana: Arizona, Maryland, and Ohio.
Foster Success and Foster Success Education Services consolidate into one organization to position Foster Success Inc.® as a national organization, increasing its reach and impact to more older foster youth.
Advancing its expansion efforts, Foster Success strengthened its work across Indiana. Its Indiana policy efforts centered on HEA 1441, which aimed to expand opportunities for young people to become financially independent and self-sufficient. Additionally, President & CEO Maggie Stevens was invited to speak before the Work & Welfare Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means in Washington, D.C., highlighting success stories of youth who had benefitted from Chafee-funded programs.